Author Archives | Alex Nagy

Venezuela is plagued by a regime of corruption and crime

Photograph courtesy of Agency EFE.

You may be reading this article on a physical edition of The Triangle, but whether you are indoors depending on a lamp or outdoors enjoying natural light on a spring day to see the words on the paper, you are reading without the fear of being robbed or kidnapped. If you’re reading this from an electronic device, you are have access to internet connection, something that enables you to reach whomever you want around the globe. Either option is a privilege, as sadly, this is not how things work in my home country, Venezuela.

Besides being the country with the highest crime rate in Latin America, it also suffers from the highest hyperinflation in the world, reaching over one million percent inflation at the end of 2018 and expected to go over 10 million percent by the end of this year. This critical economic situation has left the nation with a huge scarcity of food and medicine, effecting people to die of diseases that were previously cured and eradicated, and causing people who less than 10 years ago identified as middle class to now depend on food they find in street trash bags for sustenance. It is not uncommon to find Venezuelan supermarkets with either entirely empty shelves or shelves stocked with a singular product overpriced to a cost more than the monthly minimum wage just to make the shelf look “filled.” In essence, something as simple as choosing the brand and type of milk you want at the grocery store is a fairy tale in Venezuela.

Though the headlines in the news lately make the humanitarian, social and economic crisis in Venezuela seen as a hot topic, it is more than just that. The crisis is affecting millions of lives — including the lives of the 5 million of us who have emigrated. As so many people are touched by these problems, I feel I have the duty to write about it to explain what is really going on.

With the proceeds from its oil and a democracy worth envying, Venezuela was the richest country in Latin America in the ‘70s and ‘80s, but when Hugo Chavez, an ex-military officer who attempted a coup in 1992, was named president in 1999, everything began to slowly decay. Chavez expropriated various private companies, closed numerous media platforms that disagreed with his government’s ideals and changed the Constitution to extend the presidency period to six years and allow unlimited re-elections in 2009. During the Chavez administration, crime, inflation and shortages started to grow and led the door open so they could peak as they are today under the current regime. When Chavez died of cancer in 2013, he named Nicolas Maduro his successor, and with his administration, everything hit rock bottom, as aforementioned.

Furthermore, under his administration, Venezuela has entered the top 10 list of countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index, speaking to the fact that we see government officials and their families dressed in nice clothes, living in lavish homes while the majority of people suffer the consequences of this tragedy.

The opposition won the majority of the National Assembly in 2016, making it the only branch of government not allied with Maduro’s party.

When the Supreme Court illegally dismissed the National Assembly, a series of protests against Maduro’s regime broke out and continued for 134 days, even though the Supreme Court undid the dismissal. The protests, though peaceful, were heavily repressed by the military and resulted in the death of 157 people and arrest of 2,977. In response, Maduro proposed a Constituent Assembly, but what he executed was an election of an illegal parallel assembly, consisting only of members who supported him. Maduro’s attempt to squash the opposition only awakened it further.

After jailing major leaders of the opposition, Maduro rushed his second presidential election in 2018. Because of this, the ONG Foro Penal claimed in a report that these presidential elections have a high percentage of irregularities and the National Assembly did not recognize him. The truth is that in dictatorship, democracy does not exist.

Implementing articles in the constitution for cases of an empty presidential office, Juan Guaido was sworn as an interim president Jan. 2019. Since then, Guaido has been recognized as the legitimate president of the country by the Organization of American States and over 50 countries, including the U.S., Colombia, Canada and Spain.

Sadly, Maduro has yet to leave office, despite being highly unpopular in the nation and unrecognized by most countries and organizations. Guaido has the legal support to be president, but Maduro has the military force on his side and without that control, Guaido cannot take Maduro out.

Since the United States recognized Guaido, some critical American leftist groups have called it “U.S. Imperialism.” Even though the U.S. has an unquestionable history of interfering in Latin America in the last century, there is a big difference between invading a nation and denouncing widely known human rights violations. Inaction towards these violations in Venezuela means also being guilty of them.

Three dozen people, from Code Pink, ANSWER Coalition and Popular Resistance and the Black Alliance for Peace, have illegally invaded the Venezuelan embassy in Washington for around a month. None of them are Venezuelan nor speak any Spanish. They have impeded the legitimate Venezuelan ambassador also have not allowed the embassy to work for us who hold that citizenship and need its services.

It is incredibly heartbreaking how these people are fighting for a cause which is killing people and separating families, and also it is incredibly ironic how this people are fighting against an alleged invasion while performing an invasion themselves. A feminist organization like Code Pink fights for this cause when Chavez and Maduro’s regime goes against feminism: it has not legalized abortion, protected victims of gender and domestic violence, or provided contraception. It threatens mothers of patients if they denounce the health system, and does not allow importation of tampons.

Venezuelan protesters in Washington have camped 24/7 outside the embassy and are asking the invaders to leave. On May 13, federal agents gave the invaders an eviction order.

Republicans use the topic to boost their names as the 2020 elections approach and the Democrats are more divided than ever. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Rep. Donna Shalala of Florida have met with Vecchio and sent messages of support while progressives like Ilhan Omar, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have joined the ideals of the “liberal” Americans who blame sanctions and Trump’s support of Guaido. With this partisan focus in the media, we are losing sight the bigger issue: the struggle of the Venezuelan people.

Undoubtedly, the best way to help with what is happening in Venezuela is to keep reading the news on what is going on and address any misinformation. I encourage you to find your local Venezuelan community and stay informed about tuned to any donation drives they may hold.

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Gym dress codes create a problematic double standard

Photograph by Leanne Chin for The Triangle.
Being asked to leave a public place because of what you are wearing is not only embarrassing, but it can make a person feel insecure. Drexel constantly promotes inclusivity and diversity, allowing each and every student to feel safe and comfortable. However, they do not always practice what they preach.
It is not uncommon for women to feel anxiety or fear mistreatment for what they wear at the gym. An article from Fitness Magazine brought up several fears that individuals, specifically women, feel when working out.
“Sixty-five percent of women actually avoid the gym over fear of being judged, according to a survey of 1,000 people across the U.S. by Fitrated, a platform for gym equipment reviews. By comparison, only 36 percent of men felt that way,” the article stated.
Immediately, I became aware that the statistics suggested an existing double standard — women have to be more cautious of what they wear to the gym in order to avoid comments and criticisms.
A very close friend of mine had an incident at the gym that not only infuriated her but also evoked many different questions and emotions for me. While working out on the StairMaster at the Recreation Center in the middle of the day, an employee of the gym interrupted her workout and told her she needed to leave with little to no explanation.
The employee attempted to argue that my friend was not dressed appropriately and was in violation of one of the rules. My friend was wearing a black T-shirt that rested about an inch above her waistline. Her torso was visible only when her hands were lifted up but not while she was working out on the steps. After arguing with the employee for 10 minutes, she was no longer being asked to leave but would be forced to leave unless she changed. Angry and confused, she proceeded to walk down to the information desk where she asked for a manager.
Initially beating around the bush, the manager finally suggested that she was being asked to leave because her exposed midriff was a risk for the possible spread of mumps. She was unable to provide any evidence to support her claims, which seemed to be more like opinions. She said that there was a new policy being implemented for sanitary reasons, and again asked my friend to leave if she did not change her clothing. With no solid answer, my friend stormed out of the gym and walked home. She did not get to finish her workout and was unable to get a plausible explanation for why she was publicly embarrassed.
The only statement that the Recreation Center section of the Drexel website states in regards to dress code is: “Shirts and closed toed shoes must be worn at all times; exposed torso (front and/or back) and cut-off shirts with gaps larger than three (3) inches are not permitted.” My friend did not have a gap larger than three inches of her torso exposed. This then brings up the argument as to why the rules are enforced for certain individuals and not others. I know from my own experience, as well as those of many other people, that everyday at the Rec Center both males and females have at least three, if not more, inches of their torsos exposed while they work out. The men at the gym always wear cut-off T-shirts with their entire sides visible. Not once since I have been a student here did I, or anyone else I know, ever witness one of them being asked to leave or change their shirts. Even more, I have also witnessed females walk out of the gym in multi-colored sports bras with tied up shirts exposing six or seven inches of their stomach without a single word being said to them. Certain individuals are discriminated against at the gym on this campus and there is no good explanation as to why.
If the Rec Center is enforcing a new policy for dress code, that is completely fine. The employees and administration have every right to take precautions for sanitary purposes or whatever other reason they feel when determining the rules and regulations of the gym. However, the problem lies with how they are and are not implementing these new rules. If new rules are set in place, the website needs to be updated. A sign or flyer should be visibly displayed somewhere in the gym for people to see. This does not seem to be the case though, because the rules are not being enforced campus-wide. When I asked around in my classes and personal social circle, several other girls mentioned that they have experienced something similar to this situation. The employees seem to be individually targeting certain students, usually female, for what they are wearing.
There is a double standard at the Rec Center on this campus. If women are being asked to leave the gym because of what they wear, unhealthy habits may result. I know personally that since hearing this, I have become more aware and put more thought into my gym attire. My friend and other females I know no longer feel comfortable working out because after being targeted because they fear public embarrassment and employees paying more attention. My male friends, however, never have these problems. They are able to carelessly work out, not have to worry about the repercussions of being objectified or embarrassed for how they are dressed.
Overall, the idea of dress code is contradictory, attempting to prevent distractions, but inadvertently causes more attention. This practice of putting women under speculation while they work out can lead to self-consciousness and fear of going to the gym. Drexel’s recreational facilities must make a change in their approach to gym attire for the sake of not just young women, but the university’s community as a whole.

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Ditch the restaurants and start frequenting the food trucks

Photograph by Casey Wood for The Triangle.

Food is something that everyone needs to keep going, and as Drexel students we’re provided with a wide range of dining options, although I do think that these could be improved upon. However, one major advantage that we have from living in Philadelphia are the food trucks, and while a lot of us make use of these amazing little trucks for our daily meals, I think more students could benefit from them, as they are far better than any of the fast food restaurants.

First and foremost, they are cheap so they won’t burn through your wallet like a fast food restaurant would. Getting a ShackBurger with fries and a large soda from Shake Shack costs about $12 and 66 cents. In contrast, chicken over rice that is served at the Halal trucks around campus costs $6 and that includes a beverage of your choosing. For a while that only used to cost $5, but they had to increase the price. You also generally get a bigger portion for your money at the Halal trucks than you do at most fast food locations on campus.

Not only are food trucks less expensive, but some of them are also very quick when it comes to actually making the food. They are so fast that they often don’t even have lines, which means that you can order quickly. This may not seem like a huge factor, but when you’re in a rush to get from one place to another or you have a class that starts exactly ten minutes after the one you just got out of, you don’t have time to be standing around waiting for your order.

Quality is another big one. We all know the saying don’t judge a book by it’s cover, and it’s a big mistake to judge the quality of a food truck’s food based on how it looks. However, most of them have very nice presentations and designs with menus that are very easy to read and understand at a glance. But getting back to quality, the food that is served at food trucks is tastier and very often more fresh than what you can get at locations like Chick-Fil-A, Subway or Landmark Americana. Although this may not always be the case, you can rest assured that the food at a food truck near campus is always made fresh to each order because you can visually see them making it.

The cost, speed and quality of the food are probably the most important aspects of the food trucks, but they are also extremely convenient for students when it comes to their placement on Drexel’s campus. No matter where you are on campus, you can almost always find a food truck if you walk two or three blocks in any given direction. The alley between the Main Building and the Bossone Research Enterprise Center is filled with a variety of food trucks that each serve something unique, offering students easy access to a delicious mix of foods.

I also love the community that food trucks provide to the campus. The interactions between customers and the people who run the food trucks are much more personal than the interactions customers have with cashiers or waiters at restaurants. It’s because of the consistency. People’s shifts and work hours change all the time at restaurants, which means that unless you figure out their work schedule, you probably won’t see them every time you go. With food trucks, the people who run them are always there during working hours. This consistent interaction builds a relationship between the customer and the people working at the food trucks, which adds another element that restaurants lack. You will especially notice this if you have a favorite food truck that you go to frequently over a long period of time. They will even remember your order if you have a favorite dish that you get every time. I know it seems like a small thing, but this community aspect has a major impact on customer retention that I don’t think restaurants can replicate nearly as easily.

Finally, food trucks just don’t have as much for you to be concerned about as restaurants do. Issues like food taking ridiculously long to come out, the table just behind you having extremely loud and rowdy occupants, a crying baby or some other kind of distraction that prevents you from eating in peace after a stressful class or long homework session vanish with Food Trucks. Food trucks are our best friends when it comes to getting food, so if you haven’t tried them already then you’re missing out. There’s also a food truck for everyone, so you’ll eventually stumble upon at least one that you enjoy.

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A night with #MeToo Movement founder Tarana Burke

Photograph courtesy of MIT Media Lab at Flickr.
As someone who stays quiet when the topic of sexual harassment comes up, I felt the need to attend “ A Night With Tarana Burke.” It was a good thing I did.
Civil rights activist and founder of the Me Too Movement Tarana Burke came to Drexel University for a night to share her story.
Burke was met with a standing ovation for over 300 plus of Drexel students April 25. She came to the school to talk about how she started the movement and what she hopes for the future of it.
Burke, a survivor of sexual abuse, founded the Me Too Movement to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and assault in society.
She came up with the phrase “Me Too” after listening to a girl tell her a story of sexual abuse, and this was the first time Burke could relate to someone and say “me too” as well.
Being apart of one of the organizations that put together the event, I had a meet-and-greet with Burke. I asked her, why the phrase #MeToo. She said the hashtag was not her doing.
Burke would have preferred if all her hard work on the organization would have been brought to light differently because the hashtag often gets her into trouble.
I don’t know if she has ever sat down on television and said “hey, please don’t associate all my personal work with the hashtag and Hollywood, because it’s not about calling out the famous.”
I must admit, I was one of those people who were angry with her last Christmas for trying to get the Christmas song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” off the air given its undertones of sexual assault of some sort.
I was also one of the people upset about the recent #MeToo allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden.
Before you decide to be against something completely, you must get the creator’s story and vision. That’s exactly what Burke did during her event.
I wasn’t a fan of her or her movement because I felt like she was on a witch hunt. It seemed to me that rather than people coming out on their own and telling her, she was just going around and accusing people.
These were some examples of the movement she didn’t like.
Burke thought the Biden accusations were confusing. “This situation with Joe Biden has been really interesting to me because I think that the work that Joe Biden has done to support women’s issues and politics has been great, But what he has done has shined a light on what I call “Good Guyism.’”
“Good Guyism” is when men, most of the time big influencers, get a “pass” because of the good deeds they have done.
I didn’t like or agree with that statement of hers, for sometimes people are just good guys, and action can be taken the wrong way by someone.
Because of Biden’s work for women and for this to be the only allegation against him, I personally give him the “Good Guyism” pass.
Burke wanted it to be noted that she is not on some witch hunt for abusers.
“A movement is about healing and action. A hashtag is about media; a hashtag is not a movement,” Burke noted.
She wants her movement to be separated from the hashtag.
She gave her speech in a different form. It was Burke and her friend on stage, and. The friend would ask Burke a question pertaining to her heritage, her activist start or her upbringing, and then Burke would give a long but fun answer.
Burke is such a down to earth person who simply just wants to better people and make them aware of their actions.
Towards the end of the event, it was open floor, and some students got to ask questions Burke didn‘t get to cover in her talk.
She responded to everyone with her truth and with the best knowledge she could. There’s something about her that even with a serious topic such as sexual assault, she can still make you find the humor in it.
“If a man tells you he doesn‘t know how to date in 2019 because of the Me Too Movement, you need to walk away from him because the real question is, what were you doing before?”, Burke said.
I was happy she made that comment, but I still didn‘t agree with it.
I do think men have to be very cautious with the things they do in today’s world. Because, you never know, as a man, you can put your hand on someones back for a picture and now you have a case against you.
Is she saying every man is bad, no? But I feel like she makes people second guess everyone they’re in the room with, both men and women.
Something as simple as her comment, though serious, were delivered in such a humorous way that you couldn‘t help but agree and chuckle at the antics of people sometimes.
I wished she would have given her own clear definitions of assault, harassment and abuse. I believe everyone has their own definition of them.
I think much of what she said never gave one straight answer; she either beat around the bush or gave three answers.
She touched a bit on male abuse as well, and I loved that. It’s a great reminder that the #MeToo is for #MenToo as well.
At the end of it all, I learned to appreciate her movement and separate her from the hashtag. I learned that a closed mind can sometimes be opened by the right person.

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Caster Semenya and the pivotal case over testosterone levels

Photograph courtesy of Chell Hill at Wikimedia Commons.

In a ruling that transcends any sporting precedent, the Court of Arbitration for Sport went against the appeal of two-time Olympic gold medalist Caster Semenya May 1. The case Semenya was arguing was with the International Association of Athletics Federation. Semenya was trying to  prevent the ushering in of new regulations designed to limit testosterone levels for athletes with a difference in sexual development.

 

This dispute has long been a problem, with gender testing of women in the sport of track and field dating back to the 1930s with an athlete on Germany’s female track team to being found to be biologically male. After creating an initial set of sex verification regulations in the 1960s, it took decades of controversy until a clearer set of gender regulations were released.

 

Back in 2009, the then 18-year-old Caster Semenya shocked the global community by winning the women’s 800-meter gold medal at the World Championships in Berlin. What immediately followed the victory for Semenya was a two-step gender verification process: one in Berlin and one back at her home in South Africa.

 

Finally in 2011, the IAAF released a new set of regulations for the situation to seem settled. However, those regulations quickly came under fire in 2015 when the Indian sprinter Dutee Chand was barred from competing in the World Championships — despite having competed in the Olympics — due to her naturally high levels of testosterone. Chand won her case in 2015, proving that there wasn’t enough evidence to show that high testosterone levels were linked with an advantage in competition.

 

The IAAF rules remained the same until April 2018, when a new set of regulations was rolled out. The sporting world first heard the term “Restricted Events,” which describes specific track and field events in which female athletes with a difference in sexual development have a significant advantage. The events ranged from the 400 meters to the one mile, including of course Semenya’s premier event, the 800 meters. Semenya, who hasn’t lost an 800-meter race in over four years, is the primary reason for these new regulations to exist.

 

If there is anything that can make this situation seem even more controversial, it is who Semenya is as a person: a gay black woman who was born and raised in South Africa. Instead of respecting and admiring Semenya’s natural abilities  that go hand-in-hand with her hard training practices, the sport of track and field has decided to take away her ability to freely compete.

 

Semenya most certainly isn’t the only athlete who has felt this level of discrimination. According to a Vox article about the ruling, people have been comparing Semenya’s case to Saartjie Baartman, an African woman who was toured in freak shows in Europe in the 19th century. Semenya’s body structure, background and skin color don’t align with the gender norms of female athletes in track and field.

 

She isn’t a lean, lithe figure effortlessly gliding around the track like American track stars Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards-Ross or Tori Bowie. She isn’t the perfect mix of power and grace like Olympic gold medalist and Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Semenya is built the way she is and trains her body to use it to the best of her abilities, with a stronger upper body and a powerful stride.

 

She has been subjected to gender testing, gender verification, controversy and suspicion from the worldwide public for the past decade. This final ruling is the hammer on the discriminatory nail for Semenya, regardless of how hard she has tried to advocate for her natural body. It calls into question, once again, why women are held to such a double standard in the world of sports.

 

The Washington Post, in response to the ruling, wrote an article discussing the difference of opinion on a male athlete when he has an absolute genetic advantage. In the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, American swimmer Michael Phelps took home eight gold medals. He was heralded as one of the greatest athletes of the decade, and has since become the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals.

 

An article by The Telegraph back in 2014 detailed just how perfect Phelps’ body is for swimming. From his unnaturally large wingspan to his incredibly flexible ankles and his double-jointed chest, Phelps’ body was destined for the water. Then the real kicker is thrown in: Michael Phelps’ body was producing less than half of the lactic acid of his competitors. This gave him a distinct advantage because his body gets less tired when exerting the same amount of energy than other swimmers.

 

As the sporting world rejoiced over Phelps’ bodily capabilities, where did they fall off the road with supporting Semenya? Just a year removed from the Phelps-filled euphoria, Semenya stepped into the world spotlight only to immediately be questioned. Why must women be treated differently when both men and women have genetic advantages? In the world of elite athletes, almost everyone is genetically ahead of the curve, so why ostracize anyone at all?

 

 

What the CAS’ ruling means for athletes with a difference in sex development like Semenya is that she will have to take testosterone-lowering medication to continue to comepte at the international level. However, Semenya does not plan on taking the medication at all.

 

Just days after hearing the ruling, Semenya raced in Doha, Qatar at the opening stop on the Diamond League track and field circuit, running her last eligible 800-meter race before the regulations were enacted.

 

Semenya stormed to victory, running a 1:54.98 and winning her 30th straight 800-meter race in a row. It was the fourth-best time of her career and the eighth-fastest 800 meter time ever run by a woman on an outdoor track.

 

“Actions speak louder than words. When you are a great champion, you always deliver … No man, or any other human, can stop me from running,” Semenya said in an interview after the race in Doha.

 

While Semenya has yet to say where she will go next with the sport, the belief is that she does not plan to retire.

 

“It doesn’t matter how I’m going to do it. What matters is I’ll still be here,” Semenya said when asked about retirement.

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The truth had set us free, well, until Barr was sworn in

Photograph courtesy of Ken Cedeno at Tribune News Service.
It was the report that America and the world waited with bated breath to hear. The report that would reveal, once and for all, whether or not Donald Trump and members of his 2016 presidential campaign colluded with the Russian government to secure a victory against the Democrats and Hillary Clinton.
Who would’ve thought the most dramatic event of Trump’s Presidency would be after Special Counsel Robert Mueller made his findings available to United States Attorney General William Barr? Certainly not me.
The Attorney General published a four-page letter to Congress March 24, announcing the results of the Mueller report. According to Barr, Mueller concluded that Trump and his campaign had neither colluded nor conspired with the Russian government and that there was no clear evidence to charge President Trump with obstruction of justice potentially. However, the report did not exonerate the president entirely.
Despite this, President Trump decided to take to his Twitter and inform his supporters and the world that there was “No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION.” The summary had the desired effect, raising Trump’s popularity among Americans and potentially handing him another term as president. However, that’s looking too far down the line and shouldn’t even be considered yet.
It became clear that something was fishy because, if there was no collusion or conspiracy, why had former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, Michael Cohen, Roger Stone and Paul Manafort all been arrested and charged with obstruction and conspiracy? And also, why, after Barr’s supposedly accurate summary, did Robert Mueller claim in a letter released to the media five days later to Barr that the letter summarizing the report “did not fully capture the context, nature and substance”?
It was enough to raise the ears of the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, who pressed Barr to release the full report, which he did. And then, as Led Zeppelin said, “When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move.” The report, as redacted as it was, showed that everything Barr had summarized was a lie.
There was enough to show that even though there was no collusion, at least in a legal sense, there was a possible conspiracy given the multiple meetings with members of the Russian government and WikiLeaks. On top of that, the report detailed 10 possible instances of obstruction of justice by President Trump, a complete 180 on the summary provided by the Attorney General.
Now, why would the Attorney General provide a summary that didn’t follow the facts of the report but also create further divisiveness? I don’t know. However, you need to remember who hired him. Bias is an influential factor, and Barr, most likely, didn’t want to bite the hand that was feeding him, i.e., Trump. Considering Barr’s predecessor in the office loved Trump and was still fired, you’d have to figure that Barr is an even bigger fan of the President and his agenda.
But then again, this is only speculation, not the facts. The fact is, however, that the Attorney General proved himself to be somewhat morally compromised with his inaccurate summary. His credibility and character would only get worse when he testified in front of Congress May 1.
“Mueller had never told me (Barr) that the expression of the findings was inaccurate, but I did then volunteer that I thought they were talking about the desire to have more information put out. But it wasn’t my purpose to put out more information,” he stated.
But remember Mueller’s letter? Even though it was released five days after the report was made public, it mentioned numerous instances before the release of the four-page summary in which there were evident concerns that Barr would not capture the full conclusion, proving the statement made on the stand by the Attorney General to be a lie. And, not only was this lie evidence, it was caught and used to hang Barr dry, thus destroying any credibility his testimony may have provided and forcing Barr into hiding as he skipped the next day of testimony.
So now, we know that the Attorney General is a proven liar, much like his boss. And yes, this will create divisiveness, but it is apparent from what is shown in the report that Donald Trump, much like Richard Nixon and Watergate, did not participate in the actual crime, but in the covering up of those crimes. And now, we have an even more significant decision to make: what will we do about it?
We can either choose to re-elect Donald Trump, a known criminal and con artist who has, at worst, conspired to cover up proven Russian interference in the 2016 election or we can choose someone else who we know not to be a criminal or has committed fewer and less severe crimes. Let’s face it, this is Washington we’re talking about.
I feel the choice is evident. However, I’m not the only voice. We have plenty of opportunities to make our voices heard, so, let’s do it. Only time will tell what else will come out of the report that will control the landscape of the 2020 election.

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Drexel needs to have more events to help students de-stress

Photograph by Kaylee Scheidegg for The Triangle

Drexel students experience an excessive amount of stress, and there should be a remedy to that problem on campus. It is no secret that most college students are stressed. After all, it is rather ordinary to feel stress when faced with challenges, which is the norm for students striving for academic success. However, too much stress is never a good thing. In fact, it can be detrimental for your health. Excess stress has been linked to physical ailments such as weakened immune systems, high blood pressure and even heart disease. Excess stress has also been linked to causing mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression. This is quite problematic, considering the fact that most college students are extremely stressed about a wide range of problems. Such problems wade past the usual stress that comes from taking exams. College students are suddenly thrust into the adult world of doing taxes, worrying about loans, etc. Stress is somewhat inevitable for Drexel students. The fast-paced, 10-week terms can go by in a blink of an eye, and no amount of preparation can steady the stress of having everything due all at once.

 

Drexel offers a wide array of ways for its students to relieve stress like stress management programs, CAB events and various stress relief events. However, these events do not have a constant presence through the term. The biggest complaint most students have when it comes to these events are that they happen once or twice, and then they are over. It can be hard for students, who are already being bombarded by exams and assignments, to try and clear their schedule during some of the busiest times of the term. Additionally, Drexel’s commuters can experience even more difficulty trying to make time for a specific event that happens once or twice a term.  

 

There are a lot of things that can be done by the university to help students rein-in their stress. Drexel could look at increasing the frequency of the stress relief events and workshops. If they scheduled it more often, then perhaps students would be able to actually make time for them and take advantage of the resources provided. Various other campuses around the country have started setting up meditation rooms for students who need the peace, or even ball pits for students to play in. Overall, the presence of a stress-free zone that is open throughout the course of the term could be very beneficial to students as a way to relieve themselves of stress.

 

While some people stand firm in their belief that such resources on campus are unnecessary, and that students are being overindulged, it is important for us to recognize the growing trend of increased student stress. There is a problem, and it should be acknowledged instead of brushed off. Increased stress will only be harming our community’s students, and will only cap their success instead of allowing it to flourish. After all, schools and students alike would benefit from maintaining a low-stress environment, since students would be able to perform better in their academic careers, which in turn, would benefit the community.

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The academic building needs to be more accessible to all students

Photograph by Ben Ahrens for The Triangle

Last Sunday at around 4 p.m. I was with my friend looking for a place to do homework. The Academic Building seemed like a great place to study because classroom settings are the best way for me to focus and get my work done. However, even though the building is supposed to be open, my card did not work. My friend said her card worked to get into the building an hour before so I was confused. I called the non-emergency Drexel Public Safety number asking why we could get in an hour ago and not now, and the person who answered just repeated over and over how it was “after hours” and how I, despite being a Drexel student, was not authorized to use the building. I still do not understand this. The third floor of the Academic Building houses the Global Studies and Modern Languages department, so why can’t I access the building to do homework?

 

The Academic Building, according to the Drexel website should be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and weekends, however my card didn’t work at 4 p.m. The inconsistency of when the building is open to students versus when it isn’t can be a distraction to students who have a consistent way of studying. I do not want to have to ask someone who is in Westphal to let me in the building during its hours of operation. As a Global Studies student, it is difficult to find a place to study other than my dorm or the library, which is often crowded, especially during exams.

 

Drexel’s tuition is too high for it to limit its students to only a certain number of buildings to study, especially during the weekends when people are catching up or getting ahead on work. The hours of the building is not what bothers me, it is the fact that I can only sometimes get inside to study. The Public Safety officer did not listen to me explain that my card worked to get inside an hour before but rather interrupted me by saying I am not authorized to get in the building. I would at least like an explanation as to why I can only access this building on certain occasions. But overall, I strongly think I should be able to access the Academic building on weekends to study.

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Don’t sweep social issues under the rug

Photograph by Ben Ahrens for The Triangle

In today’s society, many of us still have a tendency to sweep social issues under the rug and deny their existence. However, I find it hard to stay silent after examining the facts surrounding the burning of the three black churches alongside the ones surrounding the burning of the Notre-Dame cathedral.

 

Most likely you heard about the fire that ravaged Notre-Dame in Paris April 15. If you missed it on the news, where it was widely publicized, then there’s a good chance you saw it in the mournful posts on all social media platforms. Now, how about the three historical black churches that were burned down in suspected hate crimes in Louisiana? Did you hear about those? Probably not. Why do you think that is?

 

The three black churches were the St. Mary Baptist Church, Greater Union Baptist Church and Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, all located in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. The St. Mary Baptist Church was the first to go up in flames March 26, and by the end it was reduced to a few walls and piles of rubble. Next to go down was the Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas April 2, and then the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church two days later.

 

Three historical black churches were engorged by flames within the span of ten days and yet so few of us knew about it. A few days later, however, an ancient European cathedral suffered a similar fate, only the fire that destroyed it wasn’t deliberately set. It still became a trending topic that sparked an endless bound of sympathy and mourning. I wholeheartedly believe that these string of events say a lot about our society and its tendency to overlook the marginalized and the injustices they face.

This isn’t to say that the Notre-Dame didn’t deserve our sympathy it certainly did and what happened to it was tragic but don’t those black churches deserve our sympathy as well?

To be fair, the burning of the three black churches didn’t go completely unnoticed, but they warranted very little public commiseration and aid in comparison to Notre-Dame. By April 14, the churches had only managed to raise $50,000 through a Gofundme campaign, which was meant to be split among them equally. Notre-Dame, on the other hand, almost instantaneously started to receive an outpour of donations and, within the span of a mere two days, raised $1 billion dollars.

People started pointing out the blind eye that the majority of the public had turned on the black churches in contrast to the fixation they had on Notre-Dame, just as I’m doing, and this is what it took to get the public’s attention. Now these black churches have raised over $2 million dollars in funds, according to WAFB.

In our society, far too many minorities face social injustices that are overlooked or simply disregarded. This certainly wasn’t the first case where something like this patently happened and it most likely won’t be the last. We can’t sweep things like this under the rug, we have to keep speaking out just as people did in this instance because if we don’t we’ll never invoke any change.

 

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Don’t fret over spoilers

Photograph by Ben Ahrens for The Triangle

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for a month, you know that “Avengers: Endgame” released April 26. If you have been following the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this is a pretty big movie — but honestly, even if you haven’t been following it, you probably knew that, too.

Because this is such a monumental movie (the finale of an 11-year arc,) it’s only natural that people are going to try and avoid hearing the movie’s ending before they see it. These plot details are, as we say, spoilers. And honestly? I don’t think they’re worth the effort.

By “effort,” I mean the fact that someone who hasn’t seen the movie is more than willing to physically fight someone else who may or may not be talking about the movie near them.

I totally understand the emotional logic here. I’ve seen every movie leading up to this, from “Iron Man” in 2008 to “Captain Marvel” last month (“Ant-Man and the Wasp” is the best one, and you can’t change my mind,) so wanting to find out the ending for yourself, with all the emotional buildup, is a valid strategy. But at some point, you really have to wonder if that’s really the most important part of the movie. It’s not like you only watched “The Empire Strikes Back” to find out that (spoiler alert) Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker’s father, and then never watched it again — instead, watching the scene play out and witnessing the characters’ emotional responses is an amazing experience every time, whether you know the ending or not.

I personally haven’t seen Endgame yet, but I stumbled across some spoilers online a few days ago. And you know what? It wasn’t a big deal. Yeah, I won’t be slack-jaw stunned at one or two points, but am I still going to see it? Yes. Am I still going to enjoy it? Absolutely.

And if knowing the ending ruins the entire movie for you, maybe consider that the movie in question is a bad one. We all have that friend who would re-watch the entire “Game of Thrones” series in a heartbeat, even though they know exactly what happens, because surprising the viewer shouldn’t be the only source of a movie/show’s appeal. If it was, nobody would ever watch it more than once.

I’m not saying that you and everyone else should instantly give up on avoiding spoilers. Yeah, it’s not the only appeal of a movie, but going into a movie with no idea of what will happen is an experience all its own. It’s just important to recognize that you won’t die if you find out that Thanos, like, failed out of med school or something.

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